The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1887-10-14
BILLY'S RELAPSE.

stairs leading to the elevated railway
station at Canal street at 6 o'clock p. NJ.
They were dressed exactly alike in white
dresses, with blue sashes tied around their
waists. They were waiting for papa.
Train after train stopped at the station
and a steady stream of homeward-boand
feet came pattering down the stairs. A
big, portly man. who had stopped at the
station to light a cigar, looked at the chill
dren-for they were very winsome-and
said:
care you waiting for somebody, little
girls?"
eyes, SIR" replied the eldest eagerly.
"Me an Beulah is waiting for papa. He
always comes at 6 o'clock. We come to
meet him every night, and"
Giles going to bring me a gra' big peach
an two Jackson balls, amt he, Hattie?''
interrupted the smallest child, her blue
eyes opening and her lips parting with
pleasureable anticipation. "Maybe he
failed off the big bridge. Did he?"
The golden head began to droop and the
little lips to tremble. The big man smiled
and said:
"Oh, no, l guess not. He'll be along
very soon" Then he took from his pocket
a handful of loose change, gave the child
rem each a cent, lifted them successfully to
q level with his bearded chin, and kissed
them. Then he resumed his cigar and his
homeward way. The clock in a jewelry
store near by licked off fifteen more weary
inmates, but the familiar face came not.
A bareheaded woman ran quickly around
the corner.
"Hasn't your father come yet, glrls?"
said she cautiously.
"No'm, he amt. En- | haints got my
peach" replied Beulah.
"Well, never mind. Perhaps he'll come
on the horse cars"
With many lingering looks at the rail-
way station the children were led away up
the street. The teapot was simmering on
the oil stove and the supper table was
waiting when they arrived at the flat.
Hunger made the children forget the alb
sent father for the time. Beulah was
placed in the high chair and Mrs. Rogers
proceeded to cut the homemade loaf.
81 want peaches first" said Beulah i'm
patiently.
"No, no, my child. Bread and milk
comes first, and peaches last" said the
mother.
II don't like bread and milk; it's mas
ty," SAID the child, drumming impatie ntly
on her plate with a spoon.
81 shall have to put my little girl to bed
without her supper if she does not behave
herself"
Beulah sulked awhile. Then evidently
making up her mind to get through a dis
agreeable job quickly, she stopped chew
ing on her thumb and began shoveling the
bread and milk so rapidly into her mouth
that she began to choke. Mrs. Rogers
slapped her on the back between the
shoulders and a piece of crust flew out of
the child's mouth half way across the
room. The absence Of the father was for
gotten in the excitement of the moment.
Beulah was snatched from her chair in a
twinkling and pressed to her mothers
breast. When the danger was over and
the clouds were clearing away Beulah
stammered out between her staccato sobs:
'Ma-ma-I-I--I-want m-m--y peach
es!"
Beulah was ladled out a larger share of
the peaches than she was entitled to, but
before she had eaten half the fruit her head
began to droop, like a violet at sunset.
Hattie undressed herself and put on her
nightgown, of which achievement she was
very proud, while Beulah lay in sorrows
haven and was rocked into dreamland,
while Mrs. Rogers sang a little song, keep
ing time with the swing of the rocking
chair, to the effect that Mr.. Rogers was
shaking q dreamland tree. Even while
she sang Mrs. Rogers wondered drearily
whether her husband was not engaged in
some more important business. Perhaps
he had been run over by the cars, perhaps
he had been sunstruck. But then, she
thought, why should | worry? lie has
been detained at the store, most likely, and
will be home in a little while.
Despite her attempt at cheerfulness Mrs.
Rogers trembled as she tucked the blankets
around her children, and a teardrop fell
upon Beulah's rounded cheek, which
made the child stir uneasily. The teapot
was pouring out a steaming protest against
being left so long on She stove when Mrs.
Rogers returned to the kitchen, so she
took the pot off the stove. After the dirty
dishes had been washed Mrs. Rogers set
the table for two, cut up some more
peaches, and began her vigil at the win
dow waiting for her husband. She had
often told him, jokingly, that she could
hear his footsteps two blocks away and he
had made a laughing denial.
But tonight it seemed to her that the
quick fall of certain boot heels Upon the
pavement would have been recognized half
a mile away, so acute was her hearing.
The night wore on; the gas lights fiickcred
down the long street like a torchlight pro-
~cession; the trucks had long since ceased
tbair r1mhle over the cobblestones. EIGHT.